Anthropogenic Global Warming: Fact or Fiction?

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Introduction

ANTHROPOGENIC GLOBAL WARMING: FACT OR FICTION? Global warming is the latest crisis for our world to face. It is commonly believed by most scientists that man made CO2 emissions are causing climate change and that to avert an increase in global temperatures we have to cut down our use of CO2 producing fossil fuels. However there are some leading researchers who believe that this is not the case, that rising temperatures are a natural process which occurs organically and that the change in climate we are experiencing now is merely a blip. Although there are many arguments supporting either side, much of it is theory or speculation, thus, it is important to verify each point with strong, conclusive evidence. An important thing to consider is that people's viewpoint can sometimes be influenced by what they would like to believe. In this essay, I will examine the arguments for and against human CO2 causing global warming and present my point of view in conclusion. GLOBAL WARMING AND THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT Global warming, by definition, is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth and its oceans in recent times. Research by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) concluded that global average air temperature near the Earth's surface rose 0.74 � 0.18 �C (1.3 � 0.32 �F) ...read more.

Middle

The Sun is in a changed state. It is brighter than it was a few hundred years ago and this brightening started relatively recently - in the last 100 to 150 years." Solanki went on to say that this increase in the Sun's output along with greenhouse gases contributed to the increase in global climate. To decide the Sun's function in global warming, Dr Solanki's research team measured magnetic zones on the Sun's surface known as sunspots, which are believed to intensify the Sun's energy output. The team then went on to study sunspot data going back several hundred years. They discovered that the pattern indicated that an absence of sunspots signalled a cold period and that over the past century the number of sunspots had increased as the Earth's climate grew steadily warmer. As human activity has no effect on the Sun, this theory rules out human responsibility in global warming. The source of this information was a website called "space.com", it is backed by scientists and various other science based websites. However the particular article that I used to find this information was written 2003 which could mean that evidence has since come out to disprove it. Graph illustrating increases in Earths temperature correlating with increasing sunspots. www.global-warming-myths.com/images/Sunspot_A... http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/sun_output_030320.html In 1996, near the last solar minimum, the Sun is nearly featureless. ...read more.

Conclusion

They have data from ice cores found in Antarctica to back up their ideas whilst the doubters' ideas are more difficult to investigate and evaluate. Partly because of this the general public is more familiar with the pro-global warming theories and accepts them as fact more easily. I consider each side of the argument to be scientifically sound with enough evidence to prove its reliability. Personally, I would like to believe that global warming is not down to human activity, but equally that we can do something to stop its potentially catastrophic effects. Even if we are not entirely to blame, our carbon emissions must have contributed to some extent to the current level of CO2 in the atmosphere. Because of this we can work to reduce our use of fossil fuels and do our best to help our damaged environment. The evidence for anthropogenic global warming: The oceans are releasing the temperature increasing CO2. More sunspots=warmer Humans have no control over the sun Fewer sunspots=colder Both believable although also both just theories The evidence against anthropogenic global warming: Ice core data indicates that the industrial age was when the increase in CO2 started. Human industry.....as above More like established but just because we are more familiar with the theories. Far less controversy. suggestion that the oceans store of CO2 being responsible for the increase in global temperatures seems quite realistic and logical although the source I ?? ?? ?? ?? Thomas Kader 9T 1 ...read more.

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